Writing Across the Curriculum

Writing is an important part of professional nursing practice. Knowing how to write well can pave the way to professional success. The writing-intensive course in the nursing program is designed to provide opportunities to practice different types of writing with a goal of preparing students for the types of writing that are expected of a professional nurse. To help students achieve this goal this course has been designed with the following requirements: multiple assignments, revision of work, critical feedback on assignments. Ideally, students will be writing as they read, writing as they think, writing before a discussion and writing after discussions.

The mutual goals for students and faculty are to discover relationships within the course material and to learn more about themselves and the profession of nursing. Writing will be a critical part of the learning and thinking that will be done in this class.

Disciplinary Writing

In this course students will gain facility with the following genres or types of writing:

Low stakes

In-class writing:

reflections on clinical experience.

exercises from textbook.

reflection/questions from case studies presented.

argument writing - did the discussion go well, or not?

summaries and questions related to class content.

discussion board postings.

Small group discussion of written responses to in-class questions.

High stakes

Take-home writing: responses to articles to be shared in class discussion.

Short answers on exams.

Reflection papers on videos, genogram, IRB exercise.

Short concept paper or policy paper relating theory and practice.

Case studies.

Professional letter (applying for summer internship - why you want to be a nurse).

High-stakes and low-stakes writing contribute to a final portfolio.

Expectations of Students in a WIM Course

In this course students will:

Write clearly and thoughtfully.

Use examples from the book and clinical experience, as well as apply knowledge from class.

Improve their grammar and writing skills through careful proofreading.

Create well-organized, well-structured reflections.

Learn how to use revision and peer review to critique and improve their writing.

Most of all, write frequently – as they read, as they think, before a discussion and after a discussion.

Expectations of Faculty in a WIM Course

In this course faculty will:

Offer constructive feedback.

Provide clear expectations for assignments, including guidelines for reflections and portfolio, and grading criteria.